Scatliffe will play Harpo; he was most recently seen in Les Miserables on Broadway and he received an Olivier nod for his performance in The Scottsboro Boys in London. Johnson is set to take on the role of Mister; his Great White Way credits include Side Show, Peter and the Starcatcher and The Merchant of Venice. On screen Johnson has been seen in Person of Interest and The Knick. Kalukango will appear as Nettie; she recently featured in the Encores!Wild Party and on Broadway in Holler If Ya Hear Me and Godspell.

The Color Purple features a book by Marsha Norman, lyrics by Brenda Russell, Allee Willis and Stephen Bray and music by Russell and Willis. Based on the novel by Alice Walker, the tuner tells the story of Celie (Erivo), a woman who, through love, finds the strength to triumph over adversity and discovers her voice in the world. Hudson will take on the role of Shug Avery and Brooks will play Sofia.

Doyle’s stripped-down production opened at the Menier Chocolate Factory in London on July 15, 2013, starring Erivo. The new staging cuts approximately 30 minutes of material from the original incarnation and its producers include Oprah Winfrey.